Chapter 111: Acquitted

The Great Emperor, with his volatile temper, immediately tossed the *Maoshan Secret Records* aside, grabbed me by the neck, and growled, "Kid, you've really got some nerve, don't you? Trying to pull a fast one on your own boss?"

I nearly choked to death and scrambled to pry his hand off. "Pull a fast one, my foot! This is the genuine *Maoshan Secret Records*."

"Like hell it is. Since when do martial arts manuals come with a standard retail price? You think we're filming a kung fu movie?"

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Chao, still half-asleep, stirred and asked irritably what the hell we were up to.

To this day, Jiang Chao remains unaware that I practice Taoist arts, and I intend to keep it that way. I quickly pulled the Great Emperor onto the balcony and recounted the incident with the old Taoist priest. I told him that if he could truly master the basics of the *Maoshan Secret Records*, I would consider putting in a good word with Peng Li to get him into their Paranormal Investigation Unit.

"For real?"

Hearing this, the Great Emperor’s eyes lit up, his doubts about the authenticity of the manual vanishing instantly.

I nodded. "The Paranormal Investigation Unit has just been established. If you truly have the talent, now is the best time to join. Since the higher-ups are interested in building this unit, they will certainly bring in experts from the Yin-Yang world to train you, which will be great for your future."

The Great Emperor was ecstatic, showering me with thanks and calling me his best brother.

For the next few days, I attended classes as usual while waiting for word from the police regarding Liu Dong’s case. Two weeks later, Peng Li called to inform me that the trial would begin in three days.

I grew nervous, asking Peng Li if there would be any complications and if he was confident he could clear Liu Dong’s name.

Peng Li sounded relaxed on the other end. "Since this case has been classified as a paranormal incident, it's being handled by our unit. We’ve already cracked the case of the paper puppets. As it happens, among the gang we captured earlier was the man who killed Wang Lun. 'Water Rat' will step forward to testify. Once that man is convicted, Liu Dong will naturally be acquitted."

I thanked him profusely, saying that if not for him, my brother’s life would have been ruined.

Peng Li chuckled. "Wu Dao, if not for you, I don't know where I'd be right now."

I understood exactly what he meant. Indeed, had he not crossed paths with me, he would still be labeled a madman by his colleagues, and Peng Lei would never have given him the chance to lead the Paranormal Investigation Unit. We had a mutually beneficial relationship.

I then asked, "Brother Peng, you encountered Sheng Jun two years ago. Can you tell me what happened between you two back then?"

Peng Li fell silent for a few seconds. "Wu Dao, I don't want to talk about that just yet. When the time is right, I will tell you."

Since he wasn't ready, I didn't press him. I simply encouraged him, saying I believed he would eventually bring Sheng Jun to justice.

After that, I brought up the Great Emperor joining the unit. Peng Li readily agreed, adding that they had already sent invitations to Longhu Mountain, and experts would soon arrive to train the team. If my brother was interested, he was more than welcome.

After hanging up, I spent the next three days in anticipation. When the trial arrived, I attended at Peng Li’s arrangement.

The proceedings were a blur; my focus was entirely on the outcome. When the judge finally declared Liu Dong innocent, the heavy stone that had been crushing my heart finally fell.

After his release, Liu Dong spent a week at home before returning to school on Sunday night. He still couldn't fathom how he’d been acquitted so easily, and even his family was baffled—they had braced themselves for him to serve over a decade in prison. Although Liu Dong remained confused, I didn't enlighten him, offering only a vague comfort that "the heavens watch what men do, and justice finds its way."

That night, to celebrate, we booked two tables at a restaurant and invited all our close friends. I had contacted Qin Yu and Wang Feiyang as well, but only Bai Rushuang showed up. I didn't mind; Wang Feiyang had taken leave from Yan Fei’s shop to help me, and now that the matter was over, he had to return to his endless bamboo-weaving to earn Yan Fei's approval. Qin Yu never cared for such gatherings, and Peng Li was far too busy with the new unit.

I formally introduced Bai Rushuang to my brothers. When they saw such a stunning beauty, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads, and they scrambled to get her contact information.

Finally, the Great Emperor couldn't take it anymore. He slammed his hand on the table, his eyes blazing. "What the hell are you idiots doing? Don't you realize she's my brother Dao’s girlfriend? If anyone tries to cut in on Dao again, don't blame me, Li Yi, for turning against you."

The Great Emperor was essentially a gang boss at our school. Even Liu Dong and Jiang Chao feared his temper. The guys sheepishly backed off. I felt awkward and looked at Bai Rushuang, who was nonchalantly cooking meat in the hotpot, and whispered, "Aren't you going to explain anything?"

"Explain what?" she asked with an innocent expression, as if she’d been focused only on the food. "What's wrong? Eat up, or I'll finish it all!"

Everyone laughed, and someone joked, "Dao, you'd better step up your game, or such a beauty will be snatched away!"

I shrugged helplessly, ignoring Bai Rushuang’s appetite, and started drinking with the guys.

About an hour later, as we were all tipsy, a shout erupted from a nearby table.

"Damn it, where’d this lying freak come from? Look at that face, like a toad! Get out of here before I lose my temper!"

"Brother, listen to an old man: you have a dark aura hanging over your head today; you are destined for a bloodbath! If you don't leave now, you might not get another chance!"

"The hell are you babbling about? I think *you're* the one destined for a bloodbath!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, I saw three burly men with tattoos rise from their seats near the door. One of them smashed a beer bottle against the head of an old man—who was wearing rags and a black headscarf, his face covered in scars.

My mind went blank. The old man looked exactly like *him*.

The bottle shattered, and a large lump rose on the old man's forehead. Yet, he showed no anger, continuing to plead, "Brother..."

"Screw you," the man interrupted, splashing a bowl of spicy oil in the old man's face. Another thug followed up, scooping a full ladle of boiling oil from the hotpot and dumping it over him.